Inchiquin Castle (in Ruins)

Directly on N bank of Womanagh river; circular tower (int. diam. 9.25m; ext. diam. 16.75m), surviving to just over 1st floor level; large gap in wall to S, vertical structural cracks in N and W walls. Distinct base batter; traces of plaster finish on external and internal faces. Ground floor door, in wall to S, missing surround but drawbar socket on E side shows sill higher than present ground level. Window opes to W, N and E, widely splayed due to batter; embrasures covered by lintels in front and vault to rear. Ground floor covered by wicker-centred dome of which only springing courses survive. Mural stair, of which only a few steps survive, rises from W side of ground-floor doorway; most of S wall gone at 1st floor level. First floor windows to N and E: broken opes covered by semicircular vaults; traces of stone seats in both. Shell of fireplace and flue in wall to NW, facing stones robbed. Mural chamber to W contains garderobe; much of inner and outer wall of chamber fallen; covered by plank-centred semicircular vault. Roof over 1st floor had wooden supports: opposite socket holes for single large beam on wall face to W and E; this supported nine joists, the socket holes for which survive on wall face to N and S (see plan and section Hartnett 1945, 43). On wall to E, just above level of these joist holes, is squinch arch, supported by masonry corbels; Hartnett (ibid, 44) interpreted this as 'a bed niche'. Hartnett (ibid, 42) considered tower 'dated from historical and architectural evidence to the thirteenth century'; inquisition of 1321 into property of Richard de Clare mentions 'a round tower built of stone' at Inchiquin; an inquiry of 1350 reported 'one stone tower worth nothing as it wants great repair' (ibid., 45). Wicker-centred dome suggest tower repaired in 15th/16th century; by this stage property of Earls of Desmond, lived in by 'the old Countess of Desmond' until her death in 1604; apparently damaged by 'Cromwell's guns' in 1649 (Healy 1988, 139). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Inchiquin Castle was built by the O'Briens, a prominent Gaelic Irish family, in the 15th or 16th century. It is remembered as a significant stronghold in the region, reflecting the power and influence of the O'Briens during the late medieval period.